White leads recovery

Kumble rattled through England's batsmen again

Second Test, Ahmedabad, day one (stumps): England (277-6 after 90 overs) v India

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Anil Kumble took five wickets as England collapsed from 120 without loss to 180 for five on the opening day in Ahmedabad.

But a sterling rearguard action from Craig White led England towards the respectability of 277 for six against India's spinners.

White put on 59 for the sixth wicket with Mark Ramprakash and an unbroken 38 for the seventh with rookie wicket-keeper James Foster.

At the close he was 42 not out, having struck five boundaries - all but one behind square - from 113 balls.

Foster was unbeaten on 15, looking far more at ease that on last week's Test debut, when he was out twice sweeping.

Opening stand

Kumble's haul followed the six for 81 that condemned England to a 10-wicket defeat in last week's first Test.

Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher had withstood everything India could throw at them before lunch.

The introduction of Kumble and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh bowling in tandem brought the wickets of Butcher, captain Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan.

And the dismissal of Trescothick for 99 and Andrew Flintoff for a duck shortly after tea put India in charge.

Thorpe returns home later on Tuesday

With Graham Thorpe flying home because of personal problems, Ramprakash was left as England's last frontline batsmen.

But India captain Sourav Ganguly failed to keep the pressure on, allowing England to escape.

Seamer Javagal Srinath was especially expensive on his return from a hand injury, conceding 71 runs from his 17 overs.

And although the frontline spinners were successful in stifling the scoring, it took the wrist spin of Tendulkar to gain a breakthrough, bowling Ramprakash through the gate with a googley for 37.

Trescothick just short

Trescothick fell in the first over of the evening session, having failed to add to his tea score.

One the verge of his third Test century, the left-hander chased a googley from Kumble, giving a fine edge to wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta.

Trescothick fell one short of his century

Flintoff was caught by VVS Laxman at silly point, shortly afterwards, off bat and pad.

A driven four through the covers had brought up Trescothick's 50 and heralded the first 100 opening partnership in 14 England innings.

Butcher was not far behind, driving Harbhajan for four at the end of the 39th over.

But he fell next over, prodding at Kumble's straighter delivery to give an edge behind.

Hussain made just a single run before being adjudged leg before to the lanky spinner by Zimbabwean umpire Ian Robinson.

Replays showed that the England skipper could feel unlucky, as the ball appeared to be travelling down the leg side.

And Vaughan - brought in for Thorpe - was shaking his head on the way back, too, after being given out caught off bat and pad by Virender Sehwag at silly point.

Timing change

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said that Thorpe will miss the final fortnight of the tour, including the third Test.

But England welcomed left-arm spinner Ashley Giles back into the side, despite continuing doubt over his ankle and heal problems. He replaces seamer James Ormond.

A wet Ahmedabad pitch forced the sides to wait an extra half hour before play began.

With dew expected throughout the second Test, the umpires have recommended that play begin 30 minutes later, at 10am local time (04.30 GMT) each day.

India named their XI on Monday, with Virender Sehwag making his expected return in place of all-rounder Sanjay Bangar. Srinath replaces Iqbal Siddiqui.

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India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Shiv Sundar Das, Deep Dasgupta, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Tinu Yohannan.

England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Mark Butcher, Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Ramprakash, Andrew Flintoff, Craig White, James Foster, Ashley Giles, Richard Dawson, Matthew Hoggard.

Umpires: AV Jayaprakash (Ind) and Ian Robinson (Zim).
Match referee: Denis Lindsay (SA).